Stan Van Gundy did not hold back in criticizing ESPN’s decision to lay off his brother, Jeff Van Gundy, just before the NBA season. Jeff, who had been with ESPN for 17 years, is now a senior consultant for the Boston Celtics. During an appearance on the LeBatard Show, Stan expressed his frustration with how the situation was handled.
“He was hurt by it. I mean, he’d worked for them for 17 years, and it wasn’t even just the fact that they made the move; they s*** on him,” Stan Van Gundy said. “The timing was awful—they waited until the NBA market for coaching, assistant, and front office jobs was already gone. And then they delayed and delayed on a buyout that would free him to work for other people. After 17 years in arguably the best game broadcast booth in basketball and being the person he is, ESPN s*** on him. I felt awful for him.”
ESPN’s decision to part ways with Jeff Van Gundy was not well-received. Fortunately, Jeff now has the opportunity to potentially add a championship ring to his résumé if the Celtics win the NBA Finals. They are set to face either the Dallas Mavericks or the Minnesota Timberwolves, with the Mavericks leading their series 3-1.
Jeff Van Gundy’s Future
Many NBA fans hope to see Jeff Van Gundy return to the media or broadcasting world. As a beloved commentator, his absence would be felt. However, his future might lie within a team setting, as his brother suggested.
Jeff Van Gundy is unlikely to return as a head coach, given that his last stint was with the Houston Rockets in the 2006-2007 season. He also coached the New York Knicks for seven seasons and compiled a 430-318 coaching record. His extensive experience is now being utilized in his role as a consultant for the Celtics.
Jeff was among several high-profile names let go by ESPN last summer, including Mark Jackson, Jalen Rose, Keyshawn Johnson, and Steve Young.
While Stan Van Gundy was very upset by ESPN’s handling of his brother’s departure, Jeff appears to be in a decent position moving forward.
Leave a Reply